It’s been so dang busy that I’ve got a three-week backlog of outings to chronicle. I’ll get there, but in the meantime, here’s the excitement from yesterday.
We took a drive over to Orland Grassland, which we last visiting in an evening. It was hoppin, especially in the first hour or so. We didn’t see any cedar waxwings, but we got some good looks at a Willow flycatcher, a yellow warbler, and a whole lot of sparrows. (Check out the whole list.)
When we first arrived, we spotted a brown thrasher perched atop a tree right by the parking lot, singing their heart out. We hadn’t seen one of them sing before, so that was a treat.
A brown thrasher watches from the top of a tree; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025A brown thrasher sings from the top of a tree; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025
Then we spotted a yellow warbler darting from tree to tree, stopping for a moment to sing, then moving on.
A yellow warbler relocates; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025A yellow warbler prepares his song; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025A yellow warbler belts one out; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025
And what a treat it was to spend some time with a couple orchard orioles, one of whose coloring confused us until we figured out it was a juvenile male.
A slightly blurry male orchard oriole on a branch; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025A juvenile male orchard oriole tries out his song; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025
Our old pals eastern kingbird and indigo bunting were also in abundance.
An indigo bunting looks resplendently blue in a bush; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025An indigo bunting takes a breather from singing to survey a field; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025An eastern kingbird enjoys the sun from a snag in a field; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025Two eastern kingbirds take a break from chasing one another around the field; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025
Finally, we spotted an osprey (strange place for an osprey), a willow flycatcher, and a couple killdeer.
An osprey hunts in a surprising spot — a grassland field; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025One of three killdeer we saw swooping around that day; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025A willow flycatcher perks up; Orland Grassland, IL; 31 May 2025
We spent a lovely couple hours strolling around the Crabtree Nature Center, with lots of feathered friends in attendance. We spotted 34 species! Here are some of the highlights. Here’s our Ebird list.
An American Phoebe on the lookout for bugs; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Brown Creeper on its way up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Brown Creeper, well, creeps up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Canada Goose browses for its breakfast; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Golden-Crowned Kinglit peeps between two branches; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Killdeer flies overhead, peeping! Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Northern Flicker peeks its head up against the top of a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Palm Warbler looks at us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Palm Warbler eyes us suspiciously; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Pine Warbler sits on a perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Pine Warbler makes its way to a new perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Red-Tailed Hawk soars overhead; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet shows its crown; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls out; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025Two Sandhill Cranes stand among the reeds; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Yellow-Rumped Warbler sits above us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Yellow-Rumped Warbler perches on a log; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
Dean Nature Sanctuary felt a bit desolate — they’d done a controlled burn and a lot of the grasses were denuded. The Robins and the Red-winged Blackbirds were out in force. No new lifers, but an enjoyable time nonetheless.
Two Brown-headed Cowbirds chat in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025Canada Geese enjoy the lake; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025A Great Blue Heron cruises on by; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025A House Sparrow surveys things from atop its box; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025Mourning Dove enjoys the sun; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025A Northern Flicker waits in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025A Song Sparrow sings from a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025A Tree Sparrow waits in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
During a bookstore outing downtown, we took a break from our bibliophilia to peep some birds. We didn’t see the birds we hoped we would, but it was a fun outing nonetheless.
New Lifer:
Hermit Thrush
Black-capped Chickadee on the lookout; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025Three Double-crested Cormorants fly by; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025A Flock of Double-crested Cormorants fly by; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025A Red-breasted Merganser enjoys Lake Michigan; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025A Mallard enjoys Lake Michigan; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025A Goldfinch chills on a branch; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025A Hermit Thrush takes a break; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025A Hermit Thrush glowers at the camera; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025Red-winged Blackbird on alert; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025Red-winged Blackbird calls a warning; 12 April 2025Caspian Terns on the beach; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025An American Kestrel on the lookout; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
We joined the Will County Audubon society for a lovely outing in the O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve.
New Lifers:
Winter Wren
We saw these tweeters:
A Northern Flicker on the lookout; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025A Great Egret hunts for dinner; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025A couple Gadwalls hunt for dinner; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025An Eastern Phoebe watching for bugs; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025An Eastern Bluebird gives us the cold shoulder; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025A Winter Wren bops around a log; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025A Cooper’s Hawk soars overhead; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025Three pelicans soar toward a pond; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025A pelican soars toward a pond; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025A flock of pelicans fishes together in a pond; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
